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Honestly, from what you're describing you want, I would go to 5 points. The issues with gun violence in 5 points are extremely overblown and you really are not in much danger. If you are wanting to party your balls off with young college chicks then you need to go to 5 points. It is a spot for undergrads or even recent grads too. There are a ton of bars packed into 5 points so you can hop from bar to bar until you find a scene you like. It is a shit show.

If you want to have some drinks with a bunch of "young professionals" in nicer bars in a nicer area, then go to the Vista. There is a club called Social in The Vista that has live music sometimes and is pretty popular right now. Also, the Tin Roof has some fun live music acts and is usually pretty packed as well. Liberty Taproom usually has a DJ and a good crowd. World of Beer is nice environment with a huge selection of beers and live music sometimes. Oyster Bar has live music sometimes and a nice raw bar in the back- if you like oysters, you should stop in for an oyster shot. Uncle Louie's is the only "5 points-ish" bar in the Vista... meaning its a cheap dive bar. There are other options as well, but those are my favorites.... minus Uncle Louie's.

Good point on Social, I forgot to mention that place in my earlier post. It's become pretty popular. But as you said, from the sound of it this guy needs to go to 5 Points.

__________________Actually, it only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth.

You can choose not to listen to me, but I'm telling you that the majority of the people on this board are the kind of people who get all excited because they're opening a TGI Friday's near the outlet mall. The highlight of their miserable lives is going to Charleston and Bubba Gump and post it on Instagram. If that's your idea of a good time, then go straight to the Vista and surround yourself with other boring suburbanite sheep. But if you want to eat good food have a good time, see some good clubs, go to Two Notch man

You can choose not to listen to me, but I'm telling you that the majority of the people on this board are the kind of people who get all excited because they're opening a TGI Friday's near the outlet mall. The highlight of their miserable lives is going to Charleston and Bubba Gump and post it on Instagram. If that's your idea of a good time, then go straight to the Vista and surround yourself with other boring suburbanite sheep. But if you want to eat good food have a good time, see some good clubs, go to Two Notch man

Don't go to two notch road, that is street walker territory. Five Points is the student scene because it is walking distance from campus, and most of the young folks are there. Also, it is arguably better than what you have in Texas because the bars stay open all night. You will frequently find yourself walking out of a bar, and blinking from the glare of the morning light. Then, find your way to a bacon and eggs and grits place.

I don't know why you guys are relying on a bunch of old people for advice. Just go down to the campus and start milling around with students. That is where you will get some true guidance.

Don't go to two notch road, that is street walker territory. Five Points is the student scene because it is walking distance from campus, and most of the young folks are there. Also, it is arguably better than what you have in Texas because the bars stay open all night. You will frequently find yourself walking out of a bar, and blinking from the glare of the morning light. Then, find your way to a bacon and eggs and grits place.

I don't know why you guys are relying on a bunch of old people for advice. Just go down to the campus and start milling around with students. That is where you will get some true guidance.

5 points does not stay open all night. Last call is 1:30 AM except for Friday nights at 3:30 AM. Atleast that's how it was a few years ago. Bar None does stay open later I believe.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I'm sure we'll go to different places at 5 points and the Vista since we're gonna be there for several nights. We'll figure it out! We go out in Houston all the time so I'm sure it's no more dangerous than that, just use good judgement and it'll buff out!

Also, 1 last question. Being a Texan and a lover of all things bbq I'm really looking forward to getting authentic Carolina BBQ. Best place for that?

Thanks for all the recommendations. I'm sure we'll go to different places at 5 points and the Vista since we're gonna be there for several nights. We'll figure it out! We go out in Houston all the time so I'm sure it's no more dangerous than that, just use good judgement and it'll buff out!

Also, 1 last question. Being a Texan and a lover of all things bbq I'm really looking forward to getting authentic Carolina BBQ. Best place for that?

Oh, and if you order tea in South Carolina it comes as sweet. It is the complete opposite of what I have found living in Houston. I'm not the biggest tea drinker, but thought I would point it out for you.

5 points will be crawling with 21-25 year olds. The bars are back to back to back, and there will be young people everywhere. Drinks will be cheap, and drunk horny undergrads will be abundant. HOWEVER, it is located next to a ghetto area, and there is a crime problem in the area. Law enforcement seems to focus its efforts on harassing college kids, and seems to let the "thugs" roam freely.

The vista has nicer bars but they are spread out. These bars typically host young and old professionals. The partying is not nearly as wild (except for tin roof).

I would stay at a hotel in the vista. Get dinner in the Vista, then head to 5 points, then make my way to the Tin Roof before calling it a night.

BBQ is a topic of contention. Everybody's a critic. I do hear Jackie Hite's is great but I've never eaten there. Shealeys is right down the road from Hite's and has more reasonable working hours. Both of those are like 45 minutes from Columbia. If you want to stay in the greater Columbia area, Palmetto Pig is right downtown and I've heard mostly good things. 3 Little Pigs is another option where I've heard good and bad things and is a bit further out. There a chain called Hudson's Smokehouse that a lot of people like... I'd recommend Palmetto Pig from what I've heard. They keep odd hours though. SC prides itself on BBQ but Columbia doesn't have much of a BBQ scene unfortunately.